Student/athletes will be remembered for effort and character
The graduating class of student/athletes of 2016 from Cloverdale High School will be remembered for their many accomplishments both on the field and in the classroom.
The athletes selected in this issue were among the best and brightest of their class and all had one thing in common; they represented their school and teams with tremendous talent, dedication and sportsmanship.
Although there were too many seniors to list, we congratulate all of the athletes for their accomplishments and pay tribute to a few in words and pictures.
(1) Talent: Teanne Edens was among the best athletes of her graduating class in a spectacular multi-sport varsity career in volleyball, basketball and softball. Edens will be remembered as an MVP softball pitcher, leading her teams to three league titles and yearly trips to the NCS playoffs. This year she posted an 18-4 record with 237 strikeouts in 134.1 innings for an earned run average of 0.63 while leading the team with a .506 batting average.
(2) Power: Luke Bernardi will go down among the all-time Cloverdale football greats as a three-year starting running back and defender. In a prolific offensive career, Bernardi amassed over 5,000 rushing yards to lay claim as the top back in the Redwood Empire, leading the Eagles to the NCS playoffs each year.
(3) Skill: Angel Bernardi enjoyed a tremendous athletic career in volleyball and basketball, using great skill and consistency in both sports. Her best moments came on the basketball court, where she led the team with an average of 20 points per game last season in guiding the Lady Eagles into the Nor Cal playoffs. (Greg Clementi)
(4) Drive: Marcus Poe was a force to be reckoned with, whether hauling in passes as an imposing football receiver or dominating the paint on the basketball court. Poe capped his senior year in sensational fashion by helping the football team to the NCS playoffs, followed by an All-League championship season in hoops.
(5) Heart: Bailey Stewart was a key figure on varsity soccer, basketball and softball teams during a distinguished sports career at Cloverdale, rising to become a team leader in each sport. Along the way she helped each program reach championship heights with productive and consistent play.
(6) Athleticism: Chris Harms was at the top of his class in both ability and production in a great high school sports career in football and baseball. His strong, accurate arm as the starting quarterback helped lead the football team to the NCS playoffs. On the diamond he quickly became the ace of the Eagles’ pitching staff and one of the best hurlers in the Redwood Empire.
(7) Versatility: Adrian Bernardi was a huge contributor in football and basketball during a stellar multi-year varsity run for the Eagles, infusing each team with skill and leadership. A two-way star in football, his best moments may have come on the basketball court where he was a steady scorer and the team’s best defender in helping the Eagles to a league title.
(8) Consistency: Karsyn Stewart was equally valuable on the soccer pitch or basketball court during a great sports career, establishing herself among the top athletes in her class. A productive player in both sports, she was at her best with a basketball in her hand as one of her team’s top scorers and rebounders.
(9) Strength: Mason Meier was among the best all-around athletes at Cloverdale in strong seasons in football, baseball and track, using speed and agility to his distinct advantage. His biggest contribution came on the gridiron, where he punished opponents as a hard-nosed running back and defender.
(10) Power: Jordyn Turner was power personified, whether imposing her will at the volleyball net or at the plate as a fearsome hitter on the softball field. During a stellar multi-year varsity career as a catcher, Turner combined power and average on the diamond to lead the Cloverdale attack, helping her teams to several league titles and into the NCS playoffs.
(11) Production: Jared Hibbeln was a mainstay on the baseball diamond at Cloverdale in a distinguished athletic career, rising to become one of the best players in the program. Equally valuable as a position player or toeing the pitching rubber, Hibbeln was even better with the bat, carrying a .356 batting average this spring in helping the Eagles into the playoffs. He was also a member of a strong varsity basketball team.
(12) Character: Bailey Creager was a great teammate and tough competitor on both the soccer pitch and softball diamond, earning several varsity letters in each sport. In the fall, Creager was a stingy soccer goalkeeper that helped lead team to a league title. She was even better on the softball diamond, where she was a steady fielder and great hitter for championship Eagles’ teams.
(13) Toughness: Travis Kitowski used size and athleticism to his advantage during strong seasons on varsity football and basketball teams for the Eagles, playing big roles for each program. A powerful forward in hoops, Kitowski logged valuable minutes as both a scorer and rebounder. He was at his best on the high school gridiron, putting in multiple seasons as an All-League lineman on both sides of the ball.
(14) Determination: Michael McDermott was a two-sport star in both basketball and baseball in a great athletic career for the Eagles, proving equally valuable each season. He was a productive forward in hoops, playing a huge role in the march to a league tile. McDermott was equally important to his baseball team as a steady hitter, pitcher, and position player.
(15) Camaraderie: Angel Vega was a player every coach loves to have, giving his all each time he stepped on a basketball court or baseball diamond. A solid guard that could shoot or handle the ball, Vega helped his team capture an NCL-1 title. On the diamond, he was both a sure-handed glove-man and consistent hitter.
(16) Tenacity: Ale Perez represented her teams and school well in a notable multi-year varsity run in volleyball and basketball for the Eagles. A consistent passer and defender on the volleyball court, Perez was perhaps at her best as a steady guard in hoops in helping her team to the Nor Cal playoffs.
All photos by Greg Clementi, except #15 by Marni Thomson-Ojeda.
